Tax Reform Proving to be Difficult Issue

Richard Piatt ReportingUtah's Legislature is getting ready to wrestle with the tax reform everybody's been talking about, but the job is proving to be tough. Today, lawmakers took a stab at lowering your income tax.

It's the start of week three of the Legislature and the pressure is mounting. There are dozens of bills that affect just about every aspect of life in this state. Some special interests are even pulling out all the stops, with a baby to help lobby for museum funding. That cause and many others may need the help.

All the publicity over the state's budget surplus has created a monster with everybody asking for money this year.

Sen. Lyle Hillyard, (R) Logan: "I've seen the list of things people want us to fund, and it's unbelievable. And I understand that, but the reality is we're not going to be able to fund very many of them."

Lawmakers are getting a better picture every day about what the budget is going to look like--an even better one when updated numbers come out in a week. Already there are mixed messages about tax reform.

A House committee passed a measure to lower the income tax rate to 6.4 percent, in direct conflict with the Governor's request to cut it to 5 percent. Even the bill's sponsor was surprised.

Rep. Jim Ferrin, (R) Orem: "I'm surprised, quite frankly, at the momentum this proposal has gotten. And I think that's reflective of a lack of unanimity among representatives and senators on any of the proposals that have been brought forth."

What's brewing is a battle over money, a fight that threatens to wreck the warm-fuzzy feeling generated by all that money. They have to figure out where to spend it.

Rep. Brad King, House Minority Whip: "I think that once the details become more clear, I think you'll see a little less unity on that front."

It may get a little painful, but chances are still good at least some tax reform measures will pass this year.

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